And smalishah's avatar is the most classy one by far Jan certainly echoes the sentiments of CW

Yeah we don't crap in the first world; most of us would actually have no idea what that was emanating from Ajmal's backside. Why isn't it roses and rainbows like what happens here? PEWS's retort to Ganeshran on Daemon's picture depicting Ajmal's excreta

Two nice shots by Captain Cook. Need to at least get a decent score here and give the team something to cling to for the remainder of the series no matter how small the crumb of comfort may be.

I'd be amazed if we don't lose 4-0 to be honest as we just can't play spin at all but it would be nice to see certain players have learnt and found a way of playing through the series instead of doing what we did in UAE and India did in England and Australia by starting badly and getting worse as time goes on.

I wonder how India will play it regarding wicket preparation if we do bat way better but still lose. They'll probably plump for avenging the 0-4 last summer. I certainly hope we don't see a re-run of 1981/82 with tracks as dead as can be after the result in the first test.

"The PFA does not represent players when they have broken the law and been convicted on non-football matters."- Gordon Taylor in 2009 following Marlon King's release after a prison sentence for sexual assault & ABH

I wonder how India will play it regarding wicket preparation if we do bat way better but still lose. They'll probably plump for avenging the 0-4 last summer. I certainly hope we don't see a re-run of 1981/82 with tracks as dead as can be after the result in the first test.

If it was me in charge i'd back the Indian side to beat England 9 times out of 10 on pitches like this and prepare 3 more exactly the same and go for the kill and revenge. Even if we bring Monty in he is hardly going to strike fear into the Indian batting line up despite being a far greater threat than any 3rd seamer we could choose.